Rope elevator.



M. E. NEENAN.

ROPE ELEVATOR.

APPLIUA'IION TILED MAR.2B,1910. RENEWED r215. 20, 1013.

1,073,700. Patented Sept. 23, 1913.

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M. E. NEENAN.

ROPE ELEVATOR.

APPLICATION TILED MAR.28,1910. RENEWED FBB,20,1013.

Patented Sept. 23, 1913.

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wwwwom D STATE PATENT FFIGE ICHAEL a. memo, on NEW roan-1v. Y.,ASSIGN'BR TO NEENAN canvases 00M- ;PANY, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ACORPORATION or new YORK.

ROPE ELEVATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed MarchfiB, 1910, Serial No. 551,914. Renewed February20, 1913. Serial No. 749,727.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MroriAnn E. NEIGNAN, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in HopeElevators, of which the following is a specification.

In the rope elevator system now largely in use, the elevator car issuspended from the hoisting ropes which extend from the car up over thesuspension sheave, then down and around the motor driven drum, and thenup around another suspension sheave to a drum counterweight. A carcounterweight of less weight than the car is usually suspended from anindependent rope passing over suitable suspension sheaves and attachedindependently to the elevator car. The support for the car suspensionsheave is mounted u on a rigid beam or framework at the top 0' theelevator shaft. The drum counterweight and the car counterweight areusually arranged to travel in the same vertical guideway, with the carcounterweight above the drum counter-weight. In this old form of ropeelevator construction, many serious accidents have resulted from thebreaking of the motor controller and the running awe of the motor. Ifthe motor runs away whi e the car is ascending, the uncontrolled 1 caris carried rapidly to the top of the ele' rater shaft and forced intoengagement with the sheave supporting framework, causing the breaking ofthe supporting rope, and the sudden release of the car, which falls withonly the car counterweight to resist its downward movement. Since thecar counlerweight is not sufficient to balance the car," its weight,together with the weight of any load that may at the moment he in thecar,

will cause the car to fall with increasing velocity until it reaches thebottom of the shaft or its movement is arrested by the safety catchesusually mounted upon the car.

These safety catches have proven unreliable and the falling of H onnumerous 00021910118, elevator cars under the circumstances explained,has resulted in many fatalities.

The objectot' my present invention is to provide simple and effectivemeans for eliminating the possibility of breaking the car supportingropes in rope elevator systems. In accomptishing'this ol'ajcet, Iinterpqse the car counterweight between the car supporting ropes and thedrum hoisting ropes and place a butler between said counterweight andthe hoisting drum. I also provide a yielding support for the carsuspension sheave. As a further element of safety, I prefer to arrangethe car supporting ropes 0t greater strength than the drum hoistingropes, by employing a greater number of car supporting ropes than drumhoisting ropes.

The details of construction in carrying my invention into practice maybe variously arranged. The yielding support for the car suspensionsheave is preferably made in the form of a beam supported in normalposition by heavy compression springs. This beam may be pivotallymounted at one end with or without supporting springs, an sustained atits other end by said compres sion springs. The car suspension sheave isjournaled in pillow blocks-1nounted upon said yielding beam or frame.The compression springs are of sufficient strength to normally withstandthe weight of the car and load and connected parts so that in theordinary operation of the improved elevator construction, there will beno appreciable movement of the frame or beam upon which the carsuspension sheave is mounted. In an elevator system having thisarrangement of car supporting ropes, yielding support for the carsuspension sheave, car counterweight, buffer and hoisting ropes, it willbe observed that in the event of the motor running away as above setforth, the car counterweight will first be pulled down against thebuffer to partially retard the upward movement of the car, and when thebutter stops yielding, will result in breaking the hoisting ropes whichconnect the car counterweight with the drum; The hoisting ropes willbreak in this manner before any unusual strain is placed upon the carsupporting ropes, which latter will therefore remain intact. When thehoisting ropes are broken, and the car is relieved in this way from theelevating action of the motor driven drum, the momentum of the car willcarry it a short distance upward, when it will dro rapidly and apply itswhole weight with a sudden blow to the ropes connecting it with the carcounterweight. The yielding support for the car suspension sheave willyield under this sudden blow and relieve the ropes from the shock with Ithe result that the breaking of the ropes between the car and itscounterweight will be avoided.

My present inventioncomprlses further a I rearrangement of the carcounterwe ght and drum counterweight. I propose to still arrange thesecounterweights to travel in a common vertical guideway, but will placethe car counterweight beneath the drum counterweight. By thisarrangement I am able to accomplish several important results,particularly when such arrangement is employed in connection with theyielding support for the car suspension sheave. In-

the first place, it will be observed that with this arrangement, thecounterweights. will move up and down in their guideway 1n unisondurin'gthe normal operation of the mechanism, but that in the event ofthe.

breaking of the hoisting ropes between the car counterweight and thehoisting drum while the car is ascending, the-moment'the weight of thecar is thrown upon its counterweight (the shock being'absorbed by theyielding support for the car suspension sheave), the car counterweightwill tend to move upwardly as the cargoes downwardly,

but will .not be-permitted to proceed ery far. when it will be arrested.by striking against-the drum counterweight, which lat- .tenis descendingunder the'conditions'noted,

not only because of the breaking of the hoisting ropes while the car wasascending, but also because of the release of the weight of the car fromthe hoisting ropes. The

mere'added weight of the drum .counterw'eightto that of'thecarcounterweight is. in itself an element-of safety, but inaddition tothis, I prefer to so form the ,car and drum' .counterweights thatjtheirsudden en-. gagement will wedge or otherwise clamp them between theirguide rails, so that themovement of the'car will be arrestedbefore itcan fall'far enough to cause any material damage. -Many different formsof devices can be adopted for-causing the two'counterweights toautomatically bind between their guide rails when they are thrown intoen-. gagement, such,- for .instancefias .wedgeshaped projectionsupon-the adjacent'faces .fof'thecountei'weights, or an arrangement oftoggle levers upon 'one' counterweight in -'.position to be operated bythe Other comb terweight.

In order that. my invention may be fully understood, I will firstdescribe the same w1th reference'to the-accompanying draw ings; andafterward point out the novelty .more particularlyinthe annexed claims.

' a .In said drawings, Figure 1' is a diagrammatic' side elevation of'apositive-driverope anddrum elevator mechanism embodying my invention.Fig;-.'2.is a detail view of one form of cooperating counterweights.

'mally sustain the frame or beam 13 Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 areviews'similar to Fig.'

2 showing modified'arrangements of counj terweights embodying .myinvention. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a frictiondrivemechanism showing a further modificationand illustrating the use ofropes of greater strength for supporting the car than for hoisting thecar, and Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the modifiedarrangement of counterweights illustrated in sion' sheave 3 mountedatthe top of the elevator shaft and to the end of the rope is properlysecured the drum counterweight '5 which operates in the guideway formed"by the guide rails 6 and 7 at one sideof the elevator shaft. The "drumcounterweight. may be of any suitable-construction'mounta ed in theusual way, but is preferably'anranged as hereinafter described foraccomplishing the purposes of'my present invention; The drumcounterweight. 5acts in the usual manner to equalize. the operation ofthe mechanism. The hoisting rope 2 passes up from the other side of vthe hoisting drum 1 and is attached to the'bottom of the carcounterweight 25 which is mountedin guideways formed 'by' the guiderails 6 and 7 beneath the drum counterweight 5. The

car counterweight 25 may be'variously con-.

structed as hereinafter explained.

The car-suspension rope or ropes 2 are:

secured to the upper end of car counterweight25 and extended up throughasuitableopening formed vertically in the drum counterweight 5 and overa car suspension shea've 10 and downwardly. to the-elevator car 15 whichis attached in the usual manner. The car. counterweight 25 is interposedas a connecting link between the hoisting rope 2 and the car supportingrope or ropes 2. The car supportmg'rope or ropes 2 are preferably ofgreater strength than. the

hoisting rope. 2- as'hereinafter more fully explained.

The car sus ension sheave'lO is journaled at 11 upon t e pillow blocks12 mounted upon the supportin beams or framework 13.

journaled at one en as indicated at 14 upon a supporting beam 16 andsustained 'at its opposite end by .one'or more heavy springs 20 mountedupon a rigid sustaining beam 21. The spring supports 20 for the. beam.

or frame 13 are of sufiic ient strength to nor.- with the weight of thecar, its load, and attached. parts) in'horizontal posltion.

Ad acent to'the bottom of the guideway formed byrails (S and 7 is abutler plate or bar 30 sustained by heavy springs 31 mounted uponstationary beams 32, this buffer being for the purpose of absorbing anyshock incident to the end of the downward travel of the carcounterweightflfl which is coincident to the'ending of the upward travelof the car 15 in the elevator shaft. The spring sustained buffer 30 isalso of importance in reducing the shock to the car and the carsupporting rope in the event of the motor running away and breaking thehoisting rope.

As, explained above, my present invention includes the arrangement ofthe drum counterweight and car counterweight in the same verticalguideway with the former above the latter for the purpose of presentingthe drum counterweight in the path of the car counterweight to resistits rapid ascent caused by the falling of the car in the event of thebreaking of the hoisting rope. This result can be accomplished with thedescribed rearrangement of the ordinary forms of counterweights for thedrum and car, since the mere added weight of the drum counterweight tothat of the car counterweight in the case of the supposed accident willaflordmaterial resistance to the falling of the car. I have found,however that more reliable results can be accomplished by a specialconstruction and arrangement of said counterweights such as shown in mydrawings and now to be described.

In Fig. 2 I have shown an arrangement for applying a graduallyincreasing braking pressure. The car counterweight 25 connected abovewith car supporting rope 2" and below with the hoisting'rope 2, isformed with an upwardly presented projection 35 having an inclined camsurface 36. The drum counterweight 5 is cut away on its lower edge asshown at 37 and pivotally mounted upon counterweight 5 at 38 is adownwardly presented lever 39 formed with a beveled end 39;-one or morestout springs 40 being confined between seats formed at 41 upon theinner face of lever 39 and at 42 upon a vertical shoulderof thecounterweight 5. A stop pin or lug 43 upon weight 5 engages the lever 39to retain it in vertical position with its lower beveled end presentedjust above the cam face 36 of projection 35 of the car counterweight 25.With this construction and arrangement of the counterweights, it will beobserved that upon the close approach of the counterweights by reason ofthe breaking of the hoisting rope, the beveled end 39 of lever 39 willtravel upon the cam face 36 of projection 35 and by the compression ofspring or springs 40, will apply a strong and gradually increasingbraking pressure between the counterweights and the guide rails G and 7.This increased friction between the a l a counter-weights and theirguide rails will gradually retard the falling of the car.

In Fig. 3. the car counterweight 25 is formed with upwardly presentedlugs 45 in which are mounted the toggle levers 46 pivotally connected at47 and carrying at, their outwardlypresented ends the brake blocks orshoes 18 which slide upon the guide rails 6, 7. Thesebralre blocks orshoes i8 are pivotally connected at 49 with the ends of the togglelevers 4e and said toggle levers preferably have pin and slot connectionwith their supporting lugs 45. One of the toggle levers 4G is formedwith an upwardly presented head as whiclvis presented di rectlybeneaththe drum counterweight 5. A spring.50 is confined between the body ofcar counterweight 25 and a shoulder 46 formed beneath one of the togglelevers 46 for the purpose of holding the toggle levers raised above thecounterweight 25 with the brake blocks or shoes -58 released from therails 6 and 7. In this form of the mechanism, the drum counterweight 5may be of the ordlnary construction. In the event of the twocounterweights being thrown forcibly together in this construction, itwill be observed that the engagement of the drum counterweight 5 withthe head 46 of the togglc lovers to will actuate said toggle levers toforce the brake blocks or shoes 48 against the rails (3 and 7 andthereby apply a powerful frictional resistance to the movement of thecounterwcights to gradually retard and arrest the falling of the car. i

In Fig. 4: I have shown a further n1odification of my invention in whichthe car counterweight 25 is formed with the up wardly presented camprojection 55, and the drum counterweight 5 is cut oil at one cornor toform an inclined cam face 56 which is adapted to engage the camprojection 55 of the car counterweight when said counterweights areforcibly brought together. The effect of this form of construction isthe jamming of the counterweights between their guide rails foraccomplishing the explained purpose.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a further modification in which the carcounterweight 25 is made of two laterally separating sections 25 and 25Secured to the bottom of the section 25 is a laterally extending barportion (St) havins sliding connection with the counterweight section25, and the central portions of the counterweight sections 25 and 25"are preferably formed with interlocking tongue and groove portions. Inthe upper edge of the sectional car counterweight 25, 25" is formed arecess (51 having diverging side walls. The drum counter weight 5 inthis form is constructed with a central dtavnwardly presented wedgemember or having diverging side walls. Upon the forcible coming togetherof the counterv thesame result explained in connection ing rope and adifferent form of combined.

drum 1 around which it passes and friction:

and has sliding engagement with the open frame car'counterweight 25. I Iwith this arrangement, I would havejit-uning ropes are fewer in number,or are of less in Figs. 7 and 8, I provide the-same spring portion ofthe counterweight 25 I pivotally mount at 76 a brake block75-to whichpivoted at 77 a dog 78 operating over a Se counterweight 5 is providedwith a down- 'wardly presented projection 66 at'the same side, so thatwhen these counterweights are supporting ropes 2 and one hoisting rope2,-

.having a greater number of car supporting ropes such as three, four,five,;- s1 x or more,

counterweight 5*.v With this last 'described brought together, they willbe thrownfaskew by reason of the engagement of projections 65 and 66 andwillbind between the railssfi and 7 and, effectively resist-the downwardmovement of the car. I

I'n-Figs. 7 and 8 I have shown a further modification in which the car isupporting ropes are of greater strength than the hoistcar and drumcounterweights for retarding the descent of the car in case of accident.I have shown the car 15 supported by two ropes 2 passing over thesuspension sheave 10 and connected to the upper end of an open oblongcar counterweight 25's operating betweenthe guide rails 6 and 7.A'single hoisting rope 2 extends from the lower end ofthe counterweight25 to the hoisting ally engages and, then up over-the counterweightsuspension sheave 3 and down to' a drum counterweight 5 which is mountedIn In connection derstood that while I havetshown two'carthisarrangement is only illustrative of the principle by which the ropes forsupporting the car are made 'of greaterstrengthathan" therope forhoisting; 'Itfwillibeielearjthat the same result willbe accomplished byand by having a plurality of hoistingropee arranged as explained, solong as the hoist;

tensile strength, than the car supporting ropes. o In this modifiedarrangement shown supported buffer plates 30 beneath the carcounterweight 25 and in a cut-out or slotted ries of rack teeth 79formed in the upperface of thebottom rail of counterweight 25".Cooperating with this brake block'7 5 of the car counterweight, is adownwardly extending wedge-shaped projection 80 of the drum the descentof the rious results. i p Ashereinbefore explamed, the importance thestrength oi the car supportingrrepes greaterthanthat of the h i'tiniropea some cases this car counterweigf modified construction, itwill be observed that in the event of the motor running away by reasonof the breaking of the controller,

the hoisting'rope 2will break and leave intact the ear supporting ropes2 which conface of the bottom rail of counterweight 25;

The strain'upon the supporting ropes 2 is relieved at the breaking ofthe hoisting rope by the slight retardation of the upward movement ofthe car when the car counterweight engages the bufler 30. -After theslight upward jump due to the momentum of the car at'the moment ofbreaking of the hoisting rope, the car will start to descend and drawupward its counterweight 25. At thesame time the drum counterweight 5%is moving downwardly because of the direction of operation of therunaway motor, and

thesetwo counterweights, moving in opposite. directions, will draw thecam projection '80 intoengagement with the brake lever 75 j and forcethe latter into eifectivefrictional engagement with theside rail 6. Thecom? bined weights of the'twocounterweights 5 and 25 augmentedby thebraking action of of my present invention is the added element- 'ofsafety in the old'form of drum and rope elevator mechanisms by a s imlo, and economical' arrangement andnmo icatmnwof a the parts of saidme'chanis'mri By/rea'sonjof the yielding buffer. arranged: betweenathe.

car counterweight and the hoisting drum, and theyielding support for thecar suspension, sheave, the car suspension ropes are re.-

lieved from the shock of;b0th-.. the sudden stoppi et theupwardinovement. of the f flry 41,1 ithe sudden startmg vof; the,downward movement otthe ar sitar. the breal' ip -'of the'hoistingimrope, sothat thedanger of: breaking the {car suspensionropesjis. .eliml nated. Greatersafety is insured by supported by anindependent cable-or rope I and. not interposed as a art. ofthe hoistingrope, Whether or not t e samejrope'isj femployed as the hoisting ropeand as thfejsupportlfor the car"counterweight, the yieldin I supportforth'e car suspension sheave is' of great value in relieving said cableor cables from the shock ofthe. sudden downward movement of the car, theyielding support;

hein of suflicient stren h to normally withstan anydownwardiyield of thesuspension sheave, but suiiici'entlysensitive to relieve the apparatusfrom the shock under the conditions described. This yielding support forthe car suspension sheave is of importance in the old arrangement of theapparatus, but is of particular value when use 111- combi r i the bar75;?will gradually slow up and stop, y 1

car, thereby avoiding; vS 5- nation with the novel arrangement andconstruction of counterweights above described, since it affords anadditional element of safety to the suspension ropes when the suddendownward movement of the car is arrested by the automatic engagement ofthe two counterweights operating as described.

What I claim is:

1. In an elevator system, the combination of an elevator car, asuspension sheave therefor, suitable hoisting means, a rope extendingfrom said car over said sheave to said hoisting means, a butter mountedadjacent to the course of said rope, and means carried by said ropeadapted to engage said butter and limit the movement of the rope ;oi anelevator car, a car suspension sheave,

toward the hoisting means.

2. In an elevator system, the combination of an elevator car, asuspension sheave there- .for, suitable hoisting means, a rope extending.from said car over said sheave to said hoisting means, a carcounterweight con nected with said rope between said car. and saidhoisting means, and a butter mounted in the path of said counterweightto limit its downward travel.

3. In an elevator system, the combination of a car suspension sheave, anelevator car, a car supporting rope extending over said sheave to saidcar, a car counterweight connected with said supporting rope, suitablehoisting means, a hoisting rope extending from said hoisting means andconnected with said c'air counterweight,- and a buffer mounted in'th'epath of said counterweight to limit its downward travel.

4. In an elevator system, the combination of hoisting means, a carsuspension sheave, an elevator car, a yielding support for saidsuspension sheave,..a supporting rope extending over said sheave to saidcar, a car counterweightsuitably connected with said car, and a bufferin the path of said counterweight for limiting its downward travel.

5. In an elevator system, the combination of a car suspension sheave, ayielding support for said suspension'sheave, an elevator car, asupporting rope connected with said car and passing over said sheave, acar counterweight connected with said supporting rope, suitable hoistingmeans, a hoisting rope connecting said car counterweight with saidhoisting means, and a butter mounted in the path of saidcounterweight tolimit its down ward travel.

6. In an elevator system, the combination of a car suspension sheave, anelevator car, a supporting rope connected with said car and assing oversaid sheave, a car counterweiglit connected with said supporting rope, ahoisting drum, a hoisting rope operating upon said drum and connectedwith said car counterweight, a buffer mounted in the path of saidcounterweight to limit its downward travel, a drum counterweightarranged above and in the same pathway as the car counterweight, and arope connecting said drum counterweight with said drum.

7. In an elevator system, the combination of an elevator car, a carsuspension sheave,

suitable hoisting means, a rope connecting said our and said hoistingmeans and extend ing over said sheave, a counterweight guide- ;way,counterweights connected respectively with said hoisting means and saidcar, and mounted to travel in said guideway, one above the other, andmeans operated by relative movement between said counterweightstorapplying braking pressure between one ol said counterwcights and saidguideway.

8. In an elevator system, the combination suitable hoisting means, arope connecting said car and said hoisting means and extend' mg oversaid sheave, a counterweight guideway, countcrweights connectedrespectively with said hoisting means and said car, and

mounted to travel in said guideway, one

above the other, and means for applyinga gradually increasing pressurebetween one of said counterweights and said guidewa-y.-

9. In an'clevator' system, the combination of an elevator car, a carsuspension sheave. suitable hoisting means, a rope connecting said carand said hoisting means and ex-' tending over said sheave, acounterweight guideway, counterweights connected respec tively with saidhoisting means and said car and mounted to travel in said guideway, oneabove the other, and means for applying braking pressure between saidcounterweights and their guideway.

10. In an elevator system, the comhina tion of hoisting means, a carsuspension sheave, an elevator var, a supporting rope' connected withsaid our and extending over Qsaid sheave, cc-unterweights connected re-'sp-ectively with said hoisting means and said car, said counterwcightsbeing mounted to travel in the same guideway with the hoistcounterweight arranged above the car counterweight, and means upon saidcounterweights for applying braking pressure be tween the counterweightsand their guideway in the event of said countcrweights being throwntogether.

11. In an elevator system, the combination of a hoisting drum, :1 carsuspension sheave, an elevator car, a counterweight suspension sheave, acounterweight guideway, a drum counterweight operating in said guideway,a hoisting rope extending from one side of the drum over saidcounterweight suspension sheave and connected with said drumcounterweight, a car sup porting rope extending from said drum over saidcar suspension sheave and connected with said car, a car counterweightsuitably connected with said car and operating in said guideway beneathsaid drum countersaid hoisti operating in said ,guideway beneath saidweight and-means carried-by said counterpressure be. tween thecounterweights an their guide-' .way in the event. of saidcounterweights be-' weights for applying .bra

ingthrow-n together. 12'. In .an' elevator tion .ofa hoistingdrum, a carsuspension sheave, a yielding support for said sheave an elevator car, arope extending from sai drum over said sheave to.-sa1d car, a guidewayfor counter-weights a drum counterweight" operating in said .guideway, arope connectin said drum. counterweight with drum, and a carcounterweight drum counterweight and suitably connected with said car.f1

13. In an elevator system, the .combina tion of a hoisting drum, a carsuspenflon sheave, an elevator car, a guideway' for courtterweights, acar counterweight operatingin said guideway, a rope. connecting said carand said car counterweight and extending over said car suspensionsheave, a rope connecting said car counterweight with said hoistingdrum, a drum counterweight, operating in said guideway above said carc0un-- terweight, a rope connecting said, druni counterweight withsaid'hoisting drum, and meansupon said counterweights for applyingbraking pressure between said counter weights and their'guideway in'theevent of said counterweights being thrown together.

14. In an elevator system, the combination of a hoisting drain, acarsuspension sheave, a yielding support for said car suspension sheave,an elevator car, a guideway or counterweights, a car counterweightoperating in said ideway, a rope connecting said car and sai carcounterweight, and extending over said car suspension sheave, a ropeconnecting said car counterweight with 'systein, the c'ornbina-- forapplying "andmounted to travel in said above theother and a projectionon oneof said counterweights adapted to engage a art of, the other ofsaldieo'unterweights' I said hoisting drum, a counterweight suspen sionsheave, a drum counterweight operating' insaid-guideway above said, carcoun-' terweight, arope connecting said drum counterweight with saidhoisting drum and ,'ex-. tending over said counterweight suspensionsheave, and means upon said counterweights braking pressure between thecounte'rwei tsand their guideway. in; the event of said counterweightsbeing-thrown together. V

;'I'n an elevator system, th combination of an elevator car, a carsuspension sheave, suitable hoisting means, a rope con- 1 necting saidcar and sa hoisting means and extending over said sheave, 'acounterweight guideway, counterweights connected .respec-' tively withsaidihoisti means and said car or applying braking pressure betweensaidcounterweights and their guideway.

necting said car and said hoisting means and extending over said sheave,a counterweight guideway, counterweights connected res eotively withsaid hoisting means and sai car and inountedto travel insaid'g'u'ideway, one abovethe other, and a braking de-;

ideway, one

' =z= "16.- In, an elevator system,3the combina- 151011 of an elevatorcar, a car suspension sheave, suitable hoisting means, a rope con-'-vice. carried by-one of said counterweights adapted to be operated bythe engagement

